Archive for July, 2004

Benjamin David Soroos arrived on Wednesday, July 21st, 2004, at 4:43am. He weighed 9lbs 3oz and was 20 3/4 inches long.

Labor didn’t go exactly as planned. He got stuck on the way out with his head transverse and asynclitic (tilted with an ear towards his shoulder). After hours of painful contractions and no progress, we transferred to a hospital for pain relief and rest. The epidural and pitocin really helped, and under the care of a midwife who was in no hurry, we eventually managed to have a great birth with no further interventions. We spent one day in the hospital before we all got to come home.

Well, we are now at 41 weeks, and no sign of baby Soroos yet. At the last midwife appt, everything still looked and sounded fine, so we’re not worrying yet. Or, we’re trying not to worry yet. I’m getting a little impatient though. I’m trying some of the natural things I can do that might get labor started – lots of walking, spicy food, black and blue cohosh (herbal remedy), evening primrose oil… Next week I’ll be trying massage and/or acupuncture if things still aren’t moving. We have one more week during which we can deliver at the birth center as planned. After 42 weeks, the birth center is not licensed and we’ll have to go to the hospital, which will mean a major attitude adjustment for me. I’m really hoping something happens this week!

In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures we took a few days before our due date. Trying to be artistic, you know. We will probably take some more this weekend, just in case I’ve grown even more!